Bird Watching

RVCP is an excellent place for bird watching and over the past 28 years, over 260 species have been recorded. With a variety of habitats to attract different species, there are always lots of birds to see.

The lakes in Rother Valley provide a permanent home for a variety of Wildfowl such as Coot, Moorhen, Mallard, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose and Canada goose and the island on the Main Lake is a popular breeding ground for these species.  The island is also good place to see Grey Heron and Kingfisher, both birds keeping an eye out for their next meal.  A popular place to see these birds is on the waterfront by the main car park and the newly built Miniature Railway, a checklist for the park and be downloaded here (0.25 MB pdf).

The main lake often turns up several notable species throughout the year, the most recent being a Red-rumped Swallow which hung around for nearly 2 weeks in May 2010.  Other species include Great-northern Diver, Whooper Swan, Arctic Tern, Osprey as well as hundreds of Swifts, Swallows, House & Sand Martins.  The Lawns to the south of the Watersports Centre attract wading birds such as Ruff, Oystercatcher and Redshank.

Another good area to view Rother Valley’s varied Wildfowl is along the River Rother and on the Nature Reserve.  Both areas come alive in Autumn & Winter as passing migrants mix with the ‘locals’ to make RVCP their new home.  Species include Scaup, Goldeneye, Slavonian Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser, Goosander, American Wigeon, Eurasian Wigeon, Shelduck, Pochard, Gadwall, Pintail, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Teal, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Shoveler and Cormorant.

The varied woodland around RVCP is home to many different species, both local & migrants.  Spring migration sees the woodlands come alive with Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Grasshopper Warbler all announcing their arrival in a cacophony of song.  Robin, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Bullfinch can also be seen flitting between branches either looking for nesting material or a hearty meal to keep them going through the winter months.

Further afield on Pit House West has seen an over-wintering Bittern on the lagoons as well as Water Rail, Gold Crest, Firecrest and a Cetti’s Warbler in 2009– a first for Sheffield.